Nuclear, Nuclear Arms | featured news

Top Democrats blasted their GOP counterparts Wednesday for intentionally delaying consideration of the new nuclear arms treaty with Russia -- a top presidential priority in the current lame duck session of Congress.

Russia may lift the veil on its vast nuclear arsenal after a new strategic arms reduction treaty with the United States comes into force, a spokesman for Russia's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

The United States, Russia, Britain, France and China on Wednesday voiced support for making the Middle East a nuclear-arms-free zone, which would mean Israel would have to scrap any atomic bombs it has.

As the White House pushes for cuts in the U.S. nuclear arsenal, the Pentagon is developing a weapon to help fill the gap: missiles armed with conventional warheads that could strike anywhere in the world in less than an hour.

Sweeping pact pledges to cut stockpile of deployed, strategic nuclear weapons and commits the old Cold War rivals to new verification procedures.

Iran's hard-line president has ridiculed President Obama's new strategy aimed at reducing the likelihood of nuclear conflict.

The Obama administration unveiled a new policy Tuesday restricting U.S. use of nuclear weapons but sent a stern message to nuclear-defiant Iran and North Korea that they remain potential targets.

The U.S. and Russian presidents are to sign a pact on Thursday committing the former Cold War foes to unprecedented nuclear arms reductions, cementing a hard-won deal that should put strained ties on firmer footing.